New Alchemist formulae from Pathfinder Player Companion: Arcane Anthology

[LordQwert]

As far as I'm aware, extracts can only be cast on the Alchemist/Investigator who creates them, or if infused, on another creature who drinks it.

With that in mind, 9 out of the 12 spells that Arcane Anthology adds to the Alchemist spell list are unusable by Alchemists or Investigators. This is especially annoying, because a lot of the spells seem to have been designed with those classes in mind.

They are:
Fool's Gold (targets gold)
Tears To Wine (targets a liquid)
Full Pouch (targets an alchemical object)
Liquefy (targets an object)
Rags to Riches (targets objects)
Dissolution (targets a tiny object)
Rune of Ruin (targets a magical object. Side question: why is a self-portrait the material component of this spell?)
Transmute Golem (targets a golem, although I suppose it might work a golem that can drink?)

These are the three that DO work:
Human Potential
Grand Destiny
Mask From Divination (Although, the material component of this spell (a mask) is an integral part of the spells casting and function, which may conflict with the whole "no material components" aspect of the Alchemist)
Legendary Proportions

Did I miss some errata somewhere that lets formulae function as oils? Is that a discovery perhaps?

[Darkblitz9]

I'm not sure if any of the listed spells that can't be used are higher than level 3, but they could be used with brew potion if they're 3rd or lower.

[VRMH]

LordQwert wrote:

Did I miss some errata somewhere that lets formulae function as oils? Is that a discovery perhaps?

Nah, Paizo just keeps forgetting Alchemists aren't spellcasters.

Also: Mask from Divination's mask is a focus, and so the spell can't be made into an extract.

[Zelda Marie Lupescu]

I was just thinking of this myself, so yeah this is a case of the writer of these spells just completely failed and made spells that can't actually be used?

I'd say that, for non-PFS play, just make a house rule that when an alchemist casts a spell that obviously shouldn't or can't affect the caster yet is on their spell list, then it's an exception of sorts and in a way it's allowing the alchemist to 'enchant' the items or such.

[Zelda Marie Lupescu]

We should get this thread to everyone to FAQ, or at least get some developer in here to give us a heads up... Since it's not an HC book any official FAQ probably isn't happening..

[James Risner]

James Jacobs apparently mentioned similar spells work and when someone pointed out the rule preventing them he replied with an ug or similar.

I'd not get too hung up on the "it doesn't work" and just let the extracts do what they should do if they were spells.

[Zelda Marie Lupescu]

James Risner wrote:

James Jacobs apparently mentioned similar spells work and when someone pointed out the rule preventing them he replied with an ug or similar.

I'd not get too hung up on the "it doesn't work" and just let the extracts do what they should do if they were spells.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, or like the alchemist version gives the drinker the ability to cause the effect on however many targets. Like, for example, Fool's Gold affects a certain number of coins, so it would give the alchemist a sort of Fool's Midas' Touch for a few coins or rounds or whatever the spell says.